Device for dispensing an active-ingredient preparation into a toilet bowl

ABSTRACT

A device for dispensing a water-soluble active-ingredient preparation from a toilet block into a toilet bowl comprising an accommodating container for the toilet block, over which toilet block flushing water can flow, which accommodating container can be arranged in the toilet bowl such that it can be fastened to the edge of the toilet bowl by means of a retainer thereby forming a basin having a basin bottom, in the region of the accommodating container that is at the bottom in the usage position. The device has at least one inlet and one outlet for the flushing water, and has a flow connection to the toilet bowl via the outlet. The accommodating container can comprises a support plate having a support surface, wherein the support plate holds the toilet block above the terminating threshold level, and wherein the support plate is fastened to the siphon.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a device for dispensing anactive ingredient preparation into a toilet bowl, comprising a receivingcontainer which is to be disposed in the toilet bowl beneath the rimthereof and across which water flows during flushing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For the automatic cleaning of toilet bowls, it is known to attach activeingredient preparations in fragmented form in a cage-like receivingcontainer to the inside rim of the toilet bowl. With each flushing, aportion of the active ingredient preparation of a toilet block dissolvesin the flushing water and is distributed together with the flushingwater in the bowl. Additionally, a portion of the dissolved activeingredient preparation remains in the residual water of the toilet bowl,where it also ensures cleaning.

A device of the type in question is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,551.The device shown there comprises a chamber including a toilet block and,downstream, a further chamber. The chamber including the toilet block isseparated from the further chamber by a separating wall having at leastone opening. Disadvantages of this known device are the multi-piecedesign and the use of a grating-like wall for retaining the separatingwall, which thus result in a cost-intensive design.

It is therefore the object of the invention to improve a device of thetype in question so that it ensures substantially constant dispensing ofthe active ingredient preparation over time into the toilet bowl, whilehaving as low a design complexity as possible.

Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the presentinvention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed descriptionof the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device (1) for dispensing a water-soluble active ingredientpreparation (16) from a toilet block (2) into a toilet bowl, comprisinga receiving container (3), which is to be arranged in a toilet bowl, forthe toilet block (2) across which flushing water can flow, wherein thereceiving container (3): can be fastened to the rim of the toilet bowlby way of a (bracket-shaped) holder (10); forms a pan (4) having a panbottom (5) in the region of the container that is at the bottom in theusage position; comprises at least one inlet (6) and one outlet (7) forthe flushing water and is fluidically connected to the toilet bowl viathe outlet (7), a siphon (8) being arranged upstream from the outlet(7); characterized in that the siphon (8) defines a triggering thresholdlevel (17) and a terminating threshold level (18) for flushing water inthe receiving container (3), by way of which a discharge of flushingwater through the siphon (8) can begin and stop, and the receivingcontainer (3) comprises a bearing plate (9) having a bearing surface(9.1), wherein the bearing plate (9) holds the toilet block (2) abovethe terminating threshold level (18), and wherein the bearing plate (9)is fastened to the siphon (8).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction withthe following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote likeelements, and

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the device, the device being shown inthe open state and without a toilet block;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through a device according to theinvention along cutting plane A-A from FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through a device according to theinvention, comprising a toilet block, along cutting plane B-B from FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplaryin nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the applicationand uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to bebound by any theory presented in the preceding background of theinvention or the following detailed description of the invention.

The device according to the invention for dispensing a water-solubleactive ingredient preparation from a toilet block into a toilet bowlcomprises a receiving container, which is to be arranged in the toiletbowl, for the toilet block across which flushing water can flow, whereinthe receiving container:can be fastened to the rim of the toilet bowl by way of a holder,forms a pan having a pan bottom in the region of the container that isat the bottom in the usage position,has at least one inlet and one outlet for the flushing water, andis fluidically connected to the toilet bowl via the outlet, wherein asiphon is arranged upstream from the outlet, wherein the siphon definesa triggering threshold level and a terminating threshold level forflushing water in the receiving container, by way of which a dischargeof flushing water through the siphon can begin and stop, and thereceiving container comprises a bearing plate having a bearing surface,wherein the bearing plate holds the toilet block above the terminatingthreshold level, and wherein the bearing plate is fastened to thesiphon.

The receiving container is held by the holder on the toilet bowl sothat, in the usage position, the pan is located beneath the holder. Inthe usage position, the toilet block is held above the terminatingthreshold level by way of the bearing plate. The holder is preferably abracket-shaped suspension holder, for example.

The device according to the invention has the advantages that continueddripping of partially dissolved active ingredient substance into thetoilet bowl is reduced or even entirely prevented. The flushing watercan flow across the toilet block and flow freely to the pan bottom and,with time delay, through the outlet into the toilet bowl. Once the flowthrough the siphon has begun, the pan is essentially emptied. Theflushing water thus flows out of the receiving container after flushing,without any noteworthy water residue remaining.

The bearing plate is preferably designed so that the toilet block isheld on the side of the bearing surface. The bearing surface is thesurface area of the upper side of the bearing plate in the usageposition. The bearing plate is designed so that flushing water cansimultaneously run across the toilet block and drain out of the same, sothat the amount of water left behind on the toilet block is minimizedThe toilet block is kept substantially dry between two consecutiveflushes. This is achieved by minimizing the contact area between thebearing plate and the toilet block. However, so as to also ensure thatthe toilet block maintains the position thereof within the receivingcontainer even after progressing use, the bearing plate can have aminimum extension between the side walls of the receiving container,which is described in more detail below.

It is preferred for the siphon to comprise a siphon cover, which has aone-piece design. It is further preferred for the bearing plate and thesiphon cover to have a one-piece design. This results in a particularlycost-effective configuration, which additionally is easy to mount in theoverall arrangement thereof.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the siphon comprises anoutlet pipe and a siphon cover. The siphon cover comprises an outerpipe, which has a larger diameter than the outlet pipe. The outer pipeis closed at one end by the bearing plate. The siphon cover is arrangedat least partially around the outlet pipe, so that an annular gap-shapedflow duct section is formed in the region between the outlet pipe andthe outer pipe. Further downstream, the outlet pipe itself forms theflow duct. In this embodiment, the flow duct is also delimited by theside of the bearing plate which is located opposite the bearing surface.

As a result of the one-piece design of the bearing plate with the siphoncover, the toilet block is supported longer during use. This ensuresthat the dispensing of active ingredient preparation into the toiletbowl takes place constantly over an extended period of time. The siphoncover, and thus the bearing plate at the same time, is placed onto thedevice using a simple production step.

A pipe within the meaning of the invention is a segment of an elongatedhollow body and can have a circular or another cross-section, such asrectangular or oval. A cross-section (cross-sectional surface) shall beunderstood to mean a vertical cross-section (vertical cross-sectionalsurface).

In one embodiment of the invention, the receiving container comprisessupport means, which together with the bearing plate are designed tohold the toilet block in position, which is to say above the terminatingthreshold level. The support means is preferably designed as one piecewith the receiving container. The support means preferably has a surfacearea (the support surface) of less than 5 mm², preferably less than orequal to 3 mm². Due to the small surface area, contact with the toiletblock is minimized, and consequently also the volume of residual waterthat remains adhering to the toilet block. The number of support meansis preferably no more than 10, further preferably no more than 6, stillmore preferably no more than 4. Due to the low number of support points,contact with the toilet block is likewise minimized, and consequently sois the volume of residual water that remains adhering to the toiletblock.

In one embodiment of the invention, the bearing surface is larger thanthe outside cross-sectional surface of the outer pipe of the siphoncover, preferably 1.5 times larger, further preferably 2 times larger.For example, if the pipe has a circular cross-section, the bearingsurface is larger than pi*(d²)/4, wherein d is the outside diameter ofthe outer pipe of the siphon cover. The bearing surface is preferablysmaller than half, especially smaller than ¼ of the maximum surface areain this plane. The maximum surface area is the inner cross-sectionalsurface of the receiving container. It is furthermore necessary to keepthe bearing surface sufficiently small, so that the water flow dynamicswithin the receiving container are maintained. As soon as the triggeringthreshold level is reached, the siphon should begin to discharge thewater, in particular when the toilet block also includes an activeingredient preparation having a cleaning function. It was establishedthat a very large bearing surface, even if it is perforated or piercedin another manner, delays the flow within the receiving container fortoo long and results in continued dripping or in residual water in thepan.

The device is preferably elongated and conforms to the rim of the toiletbowl. In this way, a front wall, which is arranged in the direction ofthe toilet bowl interior, and a rear wall, which is arranged in thedirection of the toilet bowl wall, are defined. Spacers are preferablypresent on the outside of the rear wall, so as to prevent flushing waterfrom remaining between the rear wall and the toilet bowl wall as aresult of capillary action. The spacers are important to preventstreaking and stains on the toilet bowl wall.

It is preferred for the bearing plate for the toilet block to extend atleast 80%, further preferably at least 90%, between the front and rearwalls. In this way, the toilet block is held on the bearing plate evenafter half of it has been consumed. This is in particular advantageouswhen using two- or multi-piece toilet blocks; these may be two joinedparts (such as glued together or coextruded), or two separate parts,which are packaged together in a water-soluble PVA film, for example,prior to use. In the case of multi-piece toilet blocks, one partpreferably includes a cleaning action and another part a coloringaction. It is also possible, of course, to have more than two partswithin a toilet block, and moreover additional active ingredientfunctions are possible as well, such as bleaching, lime scale preventionor hygiene functions.

If the toilet block is two-piece and one part includes a coloringaction, it is particularly preferred for this part to have a color thatis the same color as the receiving container. This color is notcolorless or white. The further part, which does not include a coloringaction, has another color, preferably white. In this way, the consumeris able to identify the color to be dispensed into the toilet bowl and,at the same time, that different active ingredient preparations arepresent in the device. One example in this regard is a blue receivingcontainer, in which one toilet block part is blue and the other part iswhite.

In a further embodiment, the bearing plate is spaced in each case fromthe front wall and rear wall of the receiving container by a maximumdistance of 3 mm. This applies in particular for toilet blocks that arehigher than they are deep in the usage position. Due to the smalldistance between the front and rear walls, these are eroded less by theflushing water and can thus be kept longer in the usage position.

In one embodiment, the bearing surface is a continuous surface. In thisway, it is achieved that a minimum of residual water, or even noresidual water, remains in the receiving container.

It is further preferred for the pan bottom to have a low point and forthe siphon to be arranged at the lowest point of the pan bottom.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is preferred for the inletopening of the siphon, in which flushing water can flow from thereceiving container into the siphon, to be located no more than 10 mm,further preferably no more than 5 mm, above the pan bottom. The level ofthe inlet opening is defined by the distance between the siphon coverand the pan bottom, for example. The siphon cover can have a tooth-likelower edge, for example. In this case, the distance between the uppertooth edge and the pan bottom can be taken into consideration. In thisembodiment, the flushing water flows almost completely out of the pandue to capillary action. This is particularly favorable when the siphonis arranged at the lowest point of the pan bottom.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the toiletblock is at least two-piece. The parts of the toilet block can be joinedto each other or be separate, preferably separate. In the usageposition, the boundary between the two parts is located on the bearingplate. In this way, both parts are supported by the bearing plate. Thisis particularly preferred when both parts of the toilet block fulfilldifferent functions, for example one cleaning part containing a cleaningcomposition and one water coloring part containing a dye composition.

Exemplary Embodiment

The invention is described in more detail hereinafter by way of examplebased on the drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the device, the device being shown inthe open state and without a toilet block;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through a device according to theinvention along cutting plane A-A from FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through a device according to theinvention, comprising a toilet block, along cutting plane B-B from FIG.1.

A device 1 according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Thedevice 1 comprises a receiving container 3, which can be fastened to therim of the toilet bowl by way of a bracket-shaped holder 10, but theholder may also be designed differently. The receiving container 3comprises at least one inlet 6 and one outlet 7 for flushing water andis fluidically connected to the toilet bowl via the outlet 7, wherein asiphon 8 is arranged upstream from the outlet 7. As is apparent fromFIG. 2, the siphon 8 defines a triggering threshold level 17 and aterminating threshold level 18 for flushing water in the interior of thereceiving container 3. The triggering threshold level 17 determines thetime at which flushing water starts to discharge through the siphon 8from the interior of the receiving container 3, while the terminatingthreshold level 18 determines the time at which flushing water stopsfrom being discharged from the receiving container 3. In this way, thetriggering threshold level 17 and the terminating threshold level 18define a desired, regulated discharge of flushing water from thereceiving container 3.

In the region of the container that is at the bottom in the usageposition, the receiving container 3 forms a pan 4 having a pan bottom 5,on which the siphon 8 is arranged. The receiving container 3accommodates the toilet block 2 comprising the active ingredientpreparation 16, see FIG. 3. Flushing water, which can enter thereceiving container via the inlet 6, can flow across the toilet block 2.As a result of the bearing plate 9 and the support means 11, the toiletblock 2 is held above the pan bottom 5 and moreover, according to theinvention, above the terminating threshold level 18. If the toilet block2 is two-piece, it is preferred for the boundary 2.1 between the partsto be located on the bearing plate.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show that the bearing plate 9 forms part of the siphon 8,and in the present case it is integrally formed on the siphon cover andthus delimits the flow duct 19. The bearing plate 9 has a bearingsurface 9.1 larger than the cross-sectional surface of the outer pipe8.1 of the siphon cover.

As a result of the one-piece design of the bearing plate with the siphoncover, the toilet block is supported longer during use. This ensuresthat the dispensing of active ingredient preparation into the toiletbowl takes place constantly over an extended period of time. The siphoncover, and thus the bearing plate at the same time, is placed onto thedevice using a simple production step.

Reference numerals

-   device 1-   toilet block 2-   possible separation of toilet block 2.1-   receiving container 3-   pan 4-   pan bottom 5-   inlet 6-   outlet 7-   outlet pipe 7.1-   siphon 8-   outer pipe 8.1-   bearing plate 9-   bearing surface 9.1-   holder 10-   additional bearing surface 11-   secondary openings 12-   inlet openings 13-   outlet pipe 14-   lower region 15-   active ingredient preparation 16-   triggering threshold level 17-   terminating threshold level 18-   flow duct 19

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in theforegoing detailed description of the invention, it should beappreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also beappreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments areonly examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability,or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoingdetailed description will provide those skilled in the art with aconvenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of theinvention, it being understood that various changes may be made in thefunction and arrangement of elements described in an exemplaryembodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device (1) for dispensing a water-soluble active ingredient preparation (16) from a toilet block (2) into a toilet bowl, comprising a receiving container (3), which is to be arranged in a toilet bowl, for the toilet block (2) across which flushing water can flow, wherein the receiving container (3): can be fastened to the rim of the toilet bowl by way of a (bracket-shaped) holder (10); forms a pan (4) having a pan bottom (5) in the region of the container that is at the bottom in the usage position; comprises at least one inlet (6) and one outlet (7) for the flushing water and is fluidically connected to the toilet bowl via the outlet (7), a siphon (8) being arranged upstream from the outlet (7); wherein the siphon (8) defines a triggering threshold level (17) and a terminating threshold level (18) for flushing water in the receiving container (3), by way of which a discharge of flushing water through the siphon (8) can begin and stop, and the receiving container (3) comprises a bearing plate (9) having a bearing surface (9.1), wherein the bearing plate (9) holds the toilet block (2) above the terminating threshold level (18), and wherein the bearing plate (9) is fastened to the siphon (8).
 2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the siphon (8) comprises a siphon cover.
 3. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the bearing plate (9) and the siphon cover are one piece.
 4. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surface is larger than the outside cross-sectional surface of an outer pipe of the siphon cover.
 5. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surface is smaller than half of the maximum available surface area in this plane within the receiving container (3).
 6. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bearing plate (9) extends at least 80% between a front wall and a rear wall of the receiving container (3).
 7. The device (1) according claim 1, wherein the receiving container (3) comprises support means, which together with the bearing plate (2) are configured to hold the toilet block (2).
 8. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bearing plate (9) is spaced from the front and rear walls of the receiving container (3) by a respective maximum distance of 3 mm.
 9. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surface is a continuous surface.
 10. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the toilet block (2) has at least a two-piece design.
 11. The device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the two toilet block rests at least partially on the bearing plate (9).
 12. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the siphon includes an opening through which flushing water can flow from the receiving container into the siphon (8), the opening being located no more than 10 mm. 